The Arabic script in Africa : : studies in the use of a writing system / / edited by Meikal Mumin, Kees Versteegh.

• Superior document: Studies in Semitic languages and linguistics, volume 71
• TeilnehmendeR: Mumin, Meikal.; Versteegh, Kees, 1961-
• Place / Publishing House: Boston : : Brill,, 2014.
• Year of Publication: 2014
• Edition: 1st ed.
• Language: English
• Series: Studies in Semitic languages and linguistics ; 71.
• Physical Description: 1 online resource (420 p.)
• Notes: Most of the papers in the present volume are based on presentations at the TASIA (The Arabic Script in Africa-Diffusion, Usage, Diversity and Dynamics of a Writing System) workshop, which took place on April 6-7, 2010, at the University of Cologne, Germany.

The Arabic script in Africa contains sixteen papers on the past and present use of Arabic script to write African languages. These writing traditions, which are sometimes collectively referred to as Ajami, are discussed for single or multiple languages, with examples from all major linguistic phyla of Africa but one (Khoisan), and from all geographic areas of Africa (North, West, Central, East, and South Africa), as well as a paper on the Ajami heritage in the Americas. The papers analyze (ethno-) historical, literary, (socio-) linguistic, and in particular grammatological aspects of these previously understudied writing traditions and exemplify their range and scope, providing new data for the comparative study of writing systems, literacy in Africa, and the history of (Islam in) Africa.

Table of Contents

section I. General problems of Arabic-script based traditions -- section II. North Africa -- section III. West Africa -- section IV. East Africa -- section V. South Africa.